swiss architect valerio olgiati’s contribution to the 16th international exhibition in venice, creates a space. by building a separate world of ordered white columns amid the historical ones in the corderie, the ‘experience of space’ installation has proven the ability of architecture to introduce a new order into the existing conditions. 

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale

the practice of teaching – valerio olgiati shows ‘experience of space’, installation, mixed media
image by andrea avezzù

 

the stoic mass of the corderie columns contrast with the more ephemeral new columns. believing in the universality of ideas and concepts as a starting point, and in the ability of architecture to bring a new consciousness to existing conditions, the foreign informs the familiar.

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

 

‘like a greek temple, there is just enough room to move around in the voids,’ comment the curators yvonne farrell and shelley mcmamara. ‘a space already replete with columns is filled with even more columns to heighten the awareness of the existing quality of the corderie.‘

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

 

‘spaces give buildings subjective universal validity by means of their presence. I consider the experience of space as the basis to form architecture.‘
valerio olgiati

 

from a distance the installation is understood as an architectural object without a clear order. however, upon approaching, it transforms into a spatial experience that constantly oscillates emotional and intellectual reading o this new space. it has an open area in the center, which — as the architect describes — is defined by the order of its own.

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale

image © designboom

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale 
image © designboom

‘experience of space’ is accompanied by a video and a sound composition,‘the construction of villa além’, a short film that shows olgiati’s concrete structure in portugal.

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

 

valerio olgiati sets a space in a space at the venice architecture biennale

image © designboom

 

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video by valerio olgiati